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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. W. HINE.

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No. 504,782. Y Patented Sept. 12, 1893 mdw mflgjw a al 5 5 aw Hm an Y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. W. HINE.

FILE.

No. 504,782. Patented Sept. 12, 1893.

a dwuwbo r/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. HINE, OF JAMESTOIVN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FENTON METALLIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,782, dated September 12, 1893.

Application filed April 25, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES IV. HINE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Files, of which the following is a specification.

In the drawings wherein is illustrated my invention-Figure 1 is a vertical section of a portion of a file case embodying my invention, and showing two file boxes supported therein, one of the file boxes being partly drawn out, and a portion of one of its sides broken away. Fig. 2 is a detached sectional view showing a different form of dust guard or rib from that illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through one of the file boxes. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the follower plate for the file box and its clamping brace. Fig. 5 is a side View of a file box, part of one of the sides being broken away, and the follower plate being shown in its rearinost and inclined position. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the file box.

A, is the case for the reception of the file boxes B, which case may be made of wood or metal, being shown as constructed of the latter material. It has been found difficult to seal the pigeon holes or compartments of such cases so as to prevent the access of dust when the file boxes are in place. To secure this desirable result I provide the front 1, of each file box at the upper end with a transverse rib 2, which in the case of a metallic box is preferably formed by curling over the edge of the front plate so that I not only secure the rib, but strengthen the article and I provide at the front of the case a transverse recess or socket 3, adapted to receive the said rib 2. I thus, when each file box is in place, effectually seal the pigeon hole and at the same time avoid any projection at the front of the case so that the faces of the front plates 1, may be all flush with each other and with the faces of the case. A preferable mode of forming the sockets 3, is to bend the forward ends of the plates constituting the bottoms 4., of the file boxes so as to form an end rib 5, which gives the proper finish to the bottom plate at the forward end and a curved flange 6, the groove in which constitutes the socket 3 the said Serial No. 430,519. (No model.)

flange and rib having the further effect of properly strengthening the bottom. 'Where the bottom plate is too thick to be readily bent as described I may form the rib 5 and flange 6 of a separate strip as shown at the top of Fig. 1, of the drawings, and where wood is employed instead of metal the socket may be formed by grooving a strip Y, of wood as shown in Fig. 2.

I-Ieretofore it has been common to pivot the follower plate 7, and the clamping brace C, to each other at their point of connection but it has been found that when the brace has been forced with the follower plateagainst the body of papers so as to hold the latter under great pressure difficulty is sometimes experienced in unclamping the'brace. I have ascertained that by providing a sliding connection between the brace and the follower plate the parts may be readily unclamped, however tightly the papers maybe compressed by simply pushing or drawing forward the upper end of the follower plate. Difierent sliding connections may be used. I prefer, however, to provide the arm 8, of the brace C, with a transverse rod 9, near the upper end and to provide the follower plate 7, with a bracket plate cl, beneath the bridges 10, 10, of which the rod 9, extends and in which it can slide to a limited extent vertically. IVith the parts constructed as thus described, pressure upon the upper edge of the plate 7, in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, will bring the lower edge against the lower base of the brace C, at the point :0, and will tilt the brace so as to unclamp the clutch from the guide in the bottom plate. To permit the follower plate to swing out at a proper angle to inspect the papers I extend the end of the brace C, upward be yond the cross rod 9, forming a finger l2, and I bend back the said finger so as to support the plate 7, at the proper angle when it is thrown back as shown in Fig. 3.

In ordinary file boxes the papers cannot be inspected when the box is full as the construction does not permit the follower plate to pass back of the position indicated in dotted lines Fig. 3. To enable the follower plate to be tilted back when in its rear position, I provide means for retaining the brace when the rear clamping lugs 13, are beyond the back end of the lower plate, thereby permitting the brace to swing backward while still in engagement with the guide. To this end I provide the guide sloty, with a stop or cross piece 14, at the rear end, preferably in the form of a wire around which the rear end of the bottom plate is curled, which stop limits the movement of the forward clamping lugs 15, of the brace, while the heel of the brace with the rear and upward clamping lugs 15, can pass over the stop, and I form a notch or recess u, that permits the brace to be swung back to the inclined position shown in Fig. 5, supporting the plate 7, in an inclined position that will permit the papers to be tilted back and facilitate their inspection.

To prevent the wounding of the table which would result from sharp edges at the bottom of the file box, I prefer to form at the bottom two bearing ribs 17, 17, Fig. 6, and to make the bottom of one piece of metal, bent to form the said ribs 17, the clamping flanges 18, and the guide slot y, and greater strength and less expense of manufacture may be secured by extending upward the ends of the same piece of metal so as to form the sides 20, 20, in one piece with the bottom.

At the rear end of the boxI place a bail 30, high enough to permit the passage of the plate 7, and extending down and secured to the sides 20, 20. The bail 30, not only strengthens and stifiens the sides at the rear end of the box, but also serves as a means of carrying the box in some instances, but mainly as a means of supporting the same in front of the case. Thus, the latter may be provided at suitable points with hooks or studs so that if a box is drawn from an elevated pigeon hole, the bail thereof may be hung to said hooks and the contents of the box examined, or the bail may be hung to any other suitable supports and when the box is nearly drawn out, it will support the same by contact with the rear of the flange 6, the lifting of the front end of the box tilting the same,

so as to permit the bail to pass beneath the flange.

lVithout limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown,I claim, 1

1. The combination in a file case of files provided with inner ribs 2, upon their forward plates and cases provided with transverse sockets 3, adapted to receive said ribs, substantially as described.

2. A file case provided with a metallic bar bent to form a forward rib 5, and curved flange 6, and socket 3, in combination with a file box having a front plate, 1, and transverse rib 2 substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a file box having a bottom slot of a follower plate 7, a brace 0, having a sliding connection with the follower plate, and having also a projection entering said slot, substantially as set forth.

at. The combination in a file box, of the follower plate and brace, jointed thereto and provided with an upwardly extending inclined finger 12, above the joint which connects the follower plate with the brace and against which the plate may rest when the plate is thrown back at an angle substantially as described.

5. The combination in a file box provided with a guide slot y, of astop 14, at the end of said slot, a follower plate, and a clamping brace to which the follower plate is secured constructed to swing over and engage with the said stop, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the file box, its slot y, stop 14, and the follower plate and brace provided with lugs 13 and 15, and with the recess a, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES 1V. IIINE.

\Vitnesses:

J. DELEVAN CURTISS, O. F. PRICE. 

